14. Riven
Riven
This is fucking absurd.
Yeah, I bitched and moaned that Lam-the-man, Nero, and Iric got to skip this stupid adventure while I was dragged along, but now I’m grateful Amick said I had to come. I won’t be telling him that, but my actions probably say it loud enough.
I refuse to move.
They’ll have to pry my Chaos from my cold dead body before I let that gigantic fucker take another step forward.
“You’re handling this worse than Gladian is, and it’s his Valtrue member,” Kyzen says, trying again to get me away from the door.
I’ll do no such thing. I’ll guard this door with my life.
“That asshole is not in a Valtrue with my friend. Discovery, search again,” I demand.
Doren’s comforting smile makes me want to slap it off his face. His gaze sweeps the crumbling chime tower, and I pray he admits he’s wrong.
“Sorry, Riven. My path leads me straight here. Unless someone else is in there with him, then your…friend is most certainly who we’re looking for.”
Someone else. Yes. That’s possible. Vullie has customers at all hours.
Whoever is in there with him is who we’re searching for.
“I’ve had enough of this,” Gladian grunts, marching toward me.
My eyes swirl as I straighten and call my power to the surface.
“Keep fucking with me, Gladdy, and you’re going to regret it.”
He throws his hands up at me, then at Creed.
“Do something about him.”
“What would you have me do? He’s protective of the people he cares about.”
“You think he cares for him more than me? That’s my Valtrue member in…there.”
His stupid glower makes me want to punch him. This is exactly why I won’t let him in.
The Valories, the Gods Binding—who-the-fuck-ever—have jokes.
Pairing my genius—questionable—friend with this limp-dick rule follower.
“This is a touch extreme, Riven. Even for you. It wasn’t long ago you were ready to kill this same man,” Amick says.
“What?” Gladian barks.
“That was different. My angel was in trouble, and we found out he didn’t have direct involvement. Therefore, my desire for his death became null.”
“Okay, how about this?” Kyzen sighs, loud as fuck, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Riven, you go down alone and speak with Vulius. We’ll wait up here.”
Gladian grumbles but nods.
This could work. I could be a distraction.
“Fine, but let me make this clear. It’s his choice whether he comes up to meet you or not. You won’t get past this door without his permission.”
“I don’t even know why you’re acting like I’m going to do something to him.”
“We’ll explain in a moment. Riven, for the love of our Binder, go,” Kyzen says.
I scoff at him for using my love for her against me, but I spin around and yank the barely hanging door open.
“This is fucking mental. I cannot believe a degenerate like him got paired with a man as remarkable as Vullie,” I mutter as I stomp—tiptoe—down the stairs.
The rotting wood creaks under my weight. Part of me hopes it gives out so I fall through and never make it to Vullie’s door.
Uneventfully, I make it down in one piece.
My fist bangs against the door in the pattern he forces all customers to learn, and his shuffle reaches my ears.
“Password.”
“Angel wings and wedding rings.”
“Riven,” he says as the door swings open. “Ah, I’m thrilled to see you. Come in. Look at what I’ve got.”
My smirk lasts a second before I remember I’m not here to fill my waist packs.
Sadly.
Rows of vials cover his desk, glowing faint purple. I hum in appreciation.
“Have you tested the healing tonic on anyone besides yourself?” he asks.
“I have. On Creed. Worked like a charm.”
“Splendid. I strengthened the recipe even more. Added a petal of angel orchid. As you can see—”
“Vullie,” I cut in, my eyes dropping to his wrapped wrist. “Why is your wrist bandaged?”
His gaze widens. He tries—and fails—to hide the shock.
“Oh, this is nothing. A little burn from a concoction gone wrong.”
“You’re lying, and you know how I feel about my friends lying.”
“I, uh…” He slumps into his chair. “The Valories have forsaken me.”
I nod and drag the half-broken stool out. My ass plops down too hard, and I steady myself as a leg creaks.
“I know.” I sigh. My heart breaks for him. “You’re tied to a completed Valtrue.”
A gasp escapes him as he sits straighter.
“How do you know that?”
“One of your members is outside, waiting to meet you. He’s a giant fucking moron.”
“What?” he shrieks, launching out of his chair and nearly busting his ass racing to the door.
It takes him thirty seconds to lock the fifteen deadbolts. Then he whirls around.
“You brought him here? Why would you do that? You know my rules.”
“In my defense, I didn’t know we were coming here. Doren led the way. By the time I realized, it was too late.”
“The God of Discovery is up there too? Who else?”
“My brothers, Sevryn, and your Valtrue member.”
“Oh, this is bad. Very, very bad.”
“Could be worse.” I shrug. “So, where’s your escape route? I’ll sit here, rummage through stuff, then go back up and tell them you’re not home. How’s that?”
“That could work.”
“Good. Get to it,” I say, slapping my thighs and standing—just in time for the stool to collapse. “Lucky me. Now grab what you want. Lie low for a while. Once that fucker sets his mind to something, he doesn’t give up. He’ll show up every day.”
“Is…out of curiosity and in the name of science, who is he?”
“Ugh, only like the seventh—maybe ninth—worst god in the realm. The God of Strength.”
He clutches his chest and staggers back into his seat.
I groan. “What are you doing? Get up. You need to go.”
He shakes his head, clearly having a crisis we do not have time for.
“Why, of all beings, would the Valories or the Gods Binding choose me for such a Valtrue?”
I shush him.
“Keep your voice down. They don’t know I told you everything. We just clued Gladian and Mara in today.”
“Mara?”
“Right. Your Binder. I don’t care much for her, but she isn’t the worst goddess. Vicious thing. Knows how to handle a sword. My angel is starting to like her, so I guess I have to put up with her.”
Unfortunately. Personally, I have much better taste in friends.
He blinks, but his gaze goes distant. I groan and stomp over to him. His feet drag as I spin his chair to face me and squash his cheeks between my hands.
“Look, Vullie. I get it. This is big, scary, shocking news, but we don’t have time for you to process it. If you’re running, get your shit together and go. I’ll buy you time.”
“I…no,” he says.
I release him, tilting my head.
“No? No what?”
“I’m not running.” He jumps up, laughing. “Think about it, Riven. With Harriseen gone and Ellian as High Chancellor, you were already dropping hints that I was alive. Now I’m in a Valtrue with the God of Strength, who has good standing in the Godsdawn. I…maybe…”
My shoulders slump as his eyes dart from side to side, trying to keep up with his own thoughts.
“Maybe you can reenter society,” I finish.
“Yeah.”
Harmony swirls beneath my skin. I mentally huff.
“If that’s really what you want…but, Vullie”—I lower my head before meeting his hopeful stare—“I mean this with no offense, old friend, but you didn’t handle society’s rejection well last time. If—once—you commit to a Valtrue, there’s no turning back. No hiding in a chime tower.”
“Last time was different. Last time—” He cuts himself off, taking a deep breath. “Last time Harriseen marked me as a madman. I am not mad.”
“I know,” I say softly. “I’ve always known.”
His chest rises and falls, and the longer I hold his gaze, the more he steadies.
He’s not mad. He’s just…different.
His mind works in mysterious, fascinating ways.
“So,” I say, clapping my hands, “is that your decision? You want to meet your Valtrue?”
Air whooshes out of him and he slumps. That’s his answer.
“Well, come on then. We’ve got a busy day ahead.”
I spin toward the door and nearly rip the handle off trying to open it. He rushes over and unlocks the ridiculous number of deadbolts.
Those locks have always confused me.
He has vials in here that could keep someone out better than any of those things.
I take the stairs two at a time, glancing back every few seconds to see if he’s changed his mind. He hasn’t. He’s twisting his fingers together, though.
“Remember, Vullie—don’t mention anything I wasn’t supposed to tell you. No Gods Binding, no Valories, no Beginning God manipulation, no pathetic prophecies. Got it?”
“Right. Got it.”
If he blabs, my Binder is going to tie me up and whoop my ass.
On second thought…
No. Don’t think those delicious thoughts right now.
My brothers, Sevryn, Doren, and…Gladian whip around as soon as I sling the door open. They stare at me and my grin silently. I clear my throat and step aside.
Vullie raises his arm to block the sunlight, blinking repeatedly as his eyes adjust. It’s probably been days since he’s been outside and he usually only leaves at night.
Gladian’s big ass takes three strides forward, scowling as he examines Vullie from head to toe. My dear friend observes him back, but with far more fear.
Slowly—painfully—Gladian holds out his hand.
“Gladian, God of Strength.”
Vullie lowers his arm and extends his hand.
“Vulius Gulliver, God of Herbology.”
Gladian’s fingers twitch as his bewildered gaze bounces between Vullie and me.
“Gulliver. As in Chancellor Gulliver’s—”
“Dead, missing, hiding—whatever he told people—crazy son. The one and only,” Vullie says with a small, sad smile.
“Well, your secrecy and protectiveness over him make a lot more sense now, Riven,” Amick says.
I bow. “I know a good god when I spot one. Thank fuck this fruit fell very far from the tree. So where to now, Discovery?”
“Can we have a damn minute?” Gladian barks.
“No,” Amick says. “You can grow acquainted after we locate your other two members.”
I snicker as he marches away.
Where to? Who fucking knows. We can’t go anywhere without Doren’s and V’s help.